The Latest: Authorities search for boy dragged away by gator

Authorities in Orlando, Florida, are still searching for a 2-year-old boy who was dragged into the water by an alligator near Disney’s upscale Grand Floridian Resort & Spa and are hoping for the best.

Orange County Sheriff’s spokesman Jeff Williamson said at a Wednesday morning news conference that it’s still being considered a search and rescue operation and additional deputies will be joining the search.

The boy was with his family on vacation from Nebraska. The family of five was wading in the water of the Seven Seas Lagoon on Tuesday night when the alligator came out of the water and attacked.

Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings says the boy’s father tried to rescue him but was not able to.

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1:30 a.m.

Authorities in Orlando are searching for a 2-year-old boy who was dragged into the water by an alligator near Disney’s upscale Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.

Speaking at a news conference early Wednesday, Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings says the family of five from Nebraska was on vacation and wading in a lake Tuesday evening when the attack happened. Demings says the father tried to rescue the child but was unsuccessful.

Demings says more than 50 law enforcement personnel are searching the Seven Seas Lagoon for the boy and will keep looking.

Demings says there have been no other recent reports of similar alligator attacks at the lake.